Majority Of F1 Teams Asked Pirelli To Leave Tires As They Are

Pirelli Motorsport Dir Paul Hembery said that Red Bull has "an agenda" in complaining about this year's tires and the "'vast majority' of Formula One teams have urged Pirelli not to change them," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Pirelli has been in the headlines more than ever after introducing new compounds to encourage overtaking, mix up strategy and create more pitstops. Much of the criticism has come from champions Red Bull, which wants the tires "to be longer-lasting and blamed excessive wear" for its controversial use of "team orders" in Malaysia last month. Hembery said he felt like "piggy in the middle" and the situation was all "a bit weird really." Hembry: "In the end we've had the vast majority of teams come to us and say: 'Whatever you do don't change anything.'" Pirelli has been supported by F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, who always likes a controversy -- or indeed anything that gets F1 talked about -- but "is also in favour of rewarding strategy and driver skills." Ecclestone said, "If the tires lasted from January to December, there'd be something else to talk about" (REUTERS, 4/23).